About us

Community

Via de Cristo Faith Community is common ground for folks from a variety of backgrounds and understandings. We carry forward a distinctive progressive Christian legacy, vision, and culture in a denominationally unaffiliated gathering.We are self-directed, with our pulpit shared by our sustaining pastor, Rev. Steven Davis, as well as a diversity of other engaging and informative invited speakers.

Our guest speakers are invited to share from their own personal passions, specialized knowledge and insight, and experience. This serves to "widen our circle" in many ways, ...sometimes stretching us as we explore together our thoughts and understandings and ways of bringing new vitality to the example and teachings of Jesus.We are on an exciting adventure and cordially invite you join us on this journey! [Yep, those ARE red noses in the picture]

Our Meeting Place

Our location may surprise you. Our unique meeting space is in the beautiful upstairs chapel at HARLEY-DAVIDSON of NORTH SCOTTSDALE.

In this bright and beautiful chapel, we gather each week, graced by wonderful music and thought-provoking messages. Our distinctive mix of music is let by Erin Tompkins as vocalist, accompanied by Nick Manson on keyboards — award winning musicians.

​Enter at the main entrance, skirt to the right around the cycle showroom floor to the indoor elevator and stairs. Once upstairs, you'll find goodies and warm conversation preceding the service.

Via de Cristo's communion table is a place of simple remembrance, and open to all who wish to partake. Dress as you like, sing if you wish, and consider joining us in the more conversational Page 2 education time immediately following our worship service. Gluten-free elements are always available.

What to Expect

Wherever you are in your life journey, whatever your church experience (or non-experience!), …welcome!

We are a small, warm and informal fellowship, a progressive Christian congregation in language and perspectives. We are a learning and evolving people, serious in our varied spiritual walks, but inclined to conversation and humor. We are active in social justice, care for the poor and the oppressed, and environmental stewardship of the earth.

Services start about 10:30, but our morning begins at 10:00, with a time of fellowship and greeting, with pastries and coffee and chatter to start the day.

Most folks wear casual attire, but feel welcome to wear whatever is comfortable. You are our guests.

Our Service

Our seating is semicircular, with a communion table physically and symbolically at the center. A wide screen behind the table is our hymnal and visual guide during the service.

​Our music is a rich blend of traditional and more recent music, sacred and sometimes secular, lovingly and thoughtfully selected and arranged by our music team.​Service duration is generally about an hour. You will find it pretty familiar in form with singing, prayers, a time of offering and thanksgiving, and a message that may be inspiring, insightful, or provocative, …but always an intellectually honest exploration of our faith, ...our histories, our questions, and our possibilities.​The Bible is a point of reference for us, taken seriously, but not literally. But it is those footprints of Jesus that define our spiritual “true north” in a challenge- and opportunity-filled world.

Communion concludes the Sunday service each week. Via de Cristo’s communion table is open to all, and as understood by each participant.

Serving​There are many opportunities at Via de Cristo to serve and engage the greater community outside our doors, to touch people in need and change lives, leaving the world that has been entrusted to us a little better than we found it.

Do we have this all down? No, but working on it. And here, in this Via de Cristo, we are among affirming and nurturing friends!​​​Page 2 – [Education/Conversation]

After a 15-minute break, our more conversational Page 2 educational time begins, generally focusing on information, insight, and awareness. Often this time is a Question & Answer extension of the pastor's or speaker's message,

​Page 2 may also focus on particular issues of interest or concern, or draw from other sources including the insightful and provocative “Living the Questions” series. Sometimes our own questions drive the conversation.

It is in these conversations that our diversities of backgrounds and understandings often become apparent, always respectfully enlivening the discussion.